Welcome to Writing to Exhale

by Jan Geronimo on May 29, 2009

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Hey, come in, don’t be a stranger. Welcome to my new home!

Rocky, my point man in my march to WordPress and self-hosted blogging, finally breached the Great Wall of China last night to bring my surrogate son WritingToExhale to a whole new world.

Here is Rocky’s account of our adventure and the challenges we hurdled to bring about my dream of owning a cool WordPress blog.

Thank you, Rocky.  I can’t be more pleased with this new home.  And look  at that – Rocky got me a Thesis theme.  Wohoo!

Guys, Rocky writes about SEO, internet marketing strategies  and blogging tips in WeBlogZone. Do you need to put up a search engine optimized business blog?  It’s right up Rocky’s alley.  He’d take care of the technical aspects of launching a blog so you can concentrate on creating content.  Although, of course, if you  also need content, Rocky can provide that for you. Here’s a link to Rocky’s blog services for more details.

Your suggestions are welcome

I love the minimalist feel to my new home.  Simple yet elegant.

I’m, however, open to your suggestions to make your stay in my new home more comfortable.  What do you suggest, guys?  BlogCatalog widget – so we can check who is absent?  What plug ins do you want to see installed?   If I request Rocky a Tweet This button, will you humor your Lolo Jan and actually click it?  Ahem.  Hey,  Doc Z.  I have tried to convince Rocky to put up a liquor cabinet,  but carpentry is not one of Rocky’s strong suits.

Changes ahead

My top commentator contest will be until June 2009 only.  I have to save up this early for webhosting and renewal of domain name registration fees .  I hope you guys don’t mind.  If, however, unexpected blessings come my way I’ll share them with you so we will have some little excitement around here.

And please don’t harass Rocky because we’ve lost your precious comments in some recent posts.  Blame me.  Lolo Jan did not follow Rocky’s instruction to the letter.

Answered prayers

Is that an ominous sign?  Yeah, yeah, more tears are shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones.

But maybe Mother Teresa wasn’t referring to blogging.  And even if she was?  I don’t care.  There.

Okay now, let’s hear your suggestions, guys.  And make a pitch as well  as to who deserves to fill the last slot in my top list of influential blogs for 2009. Over to you now.

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Tagged as: blog transfer, Thesis theme, WeBlogZone, WordPress

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  • ganda ng outlook ng site..ang linis! musta na jan!
    .-= ever´s last blog ..pAmbiHiRa =-.
  • Jan Geronimo
    Thanks, Ever. Ahahaha. Salbahe iyong feed ko di nagrereflect ng current post. Di bale ang mahalaga napadalaw ka. Thanks, Ever. Heto, hanggang ngayon nangangapa pa dito sa WordPress. Marami pa akong bagay na di kabisado. Kailangan pang magcall a friend. :)
  • so yatot and i are not cuties? hmmmm.... welga, welga kami! makibaka! LOL! eheheh! maybe yatot and i should start seriously shaping our abs huh? hehehhee

    <abbr>elmot’s last blog post..Juggling Work, Thesis and Blogging This School Year</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    Ay sus, humanap pa ng kakampi. You all rock my world. Walang itulak sipain sa inyo noh. Ahahaha. In fairness to you both, you both pass the minimum requirement to be branded as OMG cute. So there, take it easy. :)
  • @yatot: you hit the target right on the spot ryan! ako rin sali,e hehehe!

    <abbr>elmot’s last blog post..Elmot's List of Ten Emerging Influential Blogs 2009!</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    Aba, pinag initan ang gaping white spaces sa sidebar ko noh. I'd fill those up with OMG cuties I'd find in my blog hopping noh. Ahahaha
  • elmot is right! maybe you can lend me a space for my 160X600 google adsense banner... wahhahahha!
  • alas!!!! i can now comment on your new baby without the nasty network admins' constant "site is blocked" teaser! congrats big bro!

    i am happy that you have this new stuff already on your blogging spree, more professional-looking blog...that you can truly call your own.

    ei, maybe yatot or roy could do some carpentry works here for your liquor cabinet...if not, maybe a cafe shop to keep new guests feel the warmth, and a halo-halo booth for all those who can't keep their cool, ehehe! magandang negosyo to bro...

    <abbr>elmot’s last blog post..Elmot's List of Ten Emerging Influential Blogs 2009!</abbr>
  • i dont want to write my comment here kasi im super late na with the news... but still i want to congratulate you with this new blog home! im so happy with your new home! :D
  • Jan Geronimo
    Thanks, my friend. :)
  • Of course, I missed your opening. What can I say? I am a Wordpress fanatic so you already expect bias comment regarding your WONDERFUL new SITE. Cool site! cool writer!

    <abbr>darbs’s last blog post..The legend of Zelda – We are the champions</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    Yeah, I'm starting to feel like a proper blogger now - with all due respect to my former host Blogger and my good friend Yatot here. Thanks for this visit, Darbs. ",)
  • Hi,

    the site looks great and welcome to the Thesis community :)

    My suggestion is use thumbnails on your posts so that they show on the home page and maybe get a decent header. You need to make your site unique and stand out from the rest of the Thesis community.

    <abbr>George Serradinho’s last blog post..Transform your pictures with PhotoFunia</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    Yeah, thumbnail images will make the page look great. Rocky has sent me a mini-tutorial on that one this morning. I just hope I can figure it out on my own. Thanks, George.
  • Hi Jan,

    Welcome to the Wordpress community! I'm sure you'll grow better with Wordpress. Enjoy and have fun!

    @everyone,

    We'll lay a couple of customizations within this week so watch out for the changes. If you have any suggestions, do drop them in the comment. Thanks. :)

    Cheers!

    <abbr>TheWeblogZone’s last blog post..Check Jan Geronimo’s New Blog - WritingToExhale.com</abbr>
  • zorlone
    Cool! I hope to learn how you transferred LJ's blogspot to WP.
    Z

    <abbr>Zorlone’s last blog post..A poet's meal: Oven baked</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    Check out Rocky's upcoming posts in WeblogZone. He'd write about our experience in transferring from blogger to WordPress, Doc Z.
  • Jan Geronimo
    Thanks, Rocky! You're the rocking best man in China. With all due respect to Yao Ming. :)
  • Hi Jan,

    As I have said earlier, this site is all "fresh and clean". It evokes the feeling of not wanting to touch anything at baka madumihan; you know - spotless white.

    You were asking for suggestions; I would say, perhaps some color may add a certain "smudge", so visitors won't go around on tiptoes - you know what I mean.

    Congratulations on your new site. I , too, have four domain names and still not doing anything with them, because like you, I'm not familiar with computer lingo.

    I have edited your link in my blog , but I added www to your URL address and it worked just fine.

    Enjoy your new-found home.

    <abbr>Jena Isle’s last blog post.."Nightmare turns into a dream come true" - 18th Story for the Inspirational Book</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    That's it! A splash of color will humanize the place. Para bang pinintahan ng kalburo? :) My preference is for very light background. Must be my poor eyesight. Hehehe.
  • Not necessarily a splash Jan, baka naman magmukhang disco house.lol...smudge na lang, so you can delete it anytime it gets too "dirty" .

    <abbr>Jena Isle’s last blog post.."Nightmare turns into a dream come true" - 18th Story for the Inspirational Book</abbr>
  • zorlone
    By the way, thanks for the link! That was so cool of you!

    <abbr>Zorlone’s last blog post..Trader's Hub</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    Did I link to you? Bummer! I meant to connect to another Hayden. Must have mistyped the link. :)
  • zorlone
    Aha! Ako pa din ang nasa link. hehehe. Salamat!

    <abbr>Zorlone’s last blog post..A poet's meal: Oven baked</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    Doc Zayden, I was just pulling your leg noh. Ahahaha. Yikes, hairy!
  • zorlone
    LJ,

    Your welcome note is a bit late, but well written. Looked like a post to me than a welcome note... Actually, post nga! Silly me!

    Thank you for always taking time to welcome and make your guests feel at home. Again, there are unanswered comments on my blog, but I am here making comments myself.

    Crazy day for me dude. Been driving all day. Back and forth at the NLEX. Received sad news from my cel that my lolo died this morning, right when I just reached San Simon Pampanga. Talk about timing, right? Anyway, it was all taken cared of. Just got home from the wake. Tomorrow, I'd have to work again before I can be with the family at the funeral home. Kailangan magtrabaho e.

    About the theme. Yes, you are just being consistent with your white theme back in blogspot. This thesis look looks cool to me. Widgets? Maybe you can try them out first and see for yourself if you want those stuff in your blog.

    Congratulations again for winning this domain and webhost. I'd better work on mine too... Sayang e. My .com is available but it's empty.

    Have a nice weekend. Will try to be active tomorrow, err, later. hehehe.

    Z

    <abbr>Zorlone’s last blog post..Poetry Friday</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    I thought I had replied to this comment already. Bummer. I'm sorry about your grandpop, Doc Z. Did he have a long life?...So you're a triumvirate here: Jena, Roy and you. Can you make me the honorary son of Pampanga? ",)

    You'd find something for your dot com blog, don't worry. You're one prolific writer. It just seems all new to us, but you'd get this thing going in no time at all. Believe me.
  • Wow!!! "Sa labas ng mandaluyong" now "Writing to exhale" cool! your blog now looks very professional anyway I suggest a good header image it's still the best to add some colors, having your theme mostly white makes it nakakasilaw... In the future maybe I'll be using wordpress since it's one of the most popular blogging platform and more professional looking than blogger

    <abbr>JDSalinger’s last blog post..SMART BRO total failure</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    That's a great suggestion. I'm thinking the same thought, adding a splash of color - something that has earthly tone to it will enhance the design. Thanks! Yeah, make it as soon as possible though. Don't wait too long. And just between you and me? Use Thesis. ",)
  • Hmmmm I can see that you're starting to love the Thesis framework. Good for you Jan! Indeed, the smartest WP theme on the planet!

    <abbr>Rob Angeles’s last blog post..Trends To Watch When A Fight Is About To Burst</abbr>
  • Suggestions? Widgets? Just take it one step at a time. Just relax and enjoy your new home first.

    Top commentator contest will be until June 2009 only? Cool. That means I won't have to hold back with my comments after that time.

    <abbr>Lucrecio Emerito’s last blog post..The World Wide Part of WWW</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    Yeah, one day at a time. If something stumps me, I can always holler for Rocky. And you - you're an expert technical guy yourself!.... I'd like to save up for the upkeep of this blog. I love blogging. It will be such a drag if someday it will be taken away from me just because of unpaid bills. Ahahaha. If I see I have something extra when the bills are taken cared of already, I'd have something cooking up again to keep a little excitement going around here. :)
  • Yeah, I'm an under-the-hood kinda guy. True that is such a drag but that's not gonna happen to you. Ikaw pa! And like I said above, mas mabuti na yong walang contest para di nakakadyahe comment ng comment :D After June, number 1 commenter na naman si Lucrecio.

    <abbr>Lucrecio Emerito’s last blog post..The World Wide Part of WWW</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    As long as you visit and have a conversation with us that will be great. Especially if you're in the top 10 commenters. It does not look good now because I have a non-existent PR, but who knows? I might get it back soon.
  • Btw, I just read your guest post on Jaypee's blog. It was, "WOW" your points are great! Allow me to Digg it and Stumbleupon it ha :D

    <abbr>Jehzeel Laurente’s last blog post..iBlog5 is the 5th Philippine Blogging Summit</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    Thanks, Jehz. Every little thing helps. :)
  • hey jan, finally your new home; so clean and fresh. are you giving up your old blog?

    <abbr>fifi’s last blog post..winning a freebie online for the first time</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    Yeah, I am giving it up. It's just there as a traffic aide: pointing direction to my new home here. Clean and fresh seems like a ad for sanitary napkin. ",) Just kidding, I know full well what you mean. Thanks, at least , you've made it here na. Di ka ba naligaw? :)
  • not a sanitary napkin, i think but a feminine wash. yikes. i made it here and i didn't get lost. remember our first ym conversation when i was so thrilled about magic sarap being available in london? a friend who is studying in oxford was also online then and told me she got milo and magic sarap there so the excitement to tell someone was there, sorry that it had to be you. hehehe...

    well, at that time i did cook pancit (with magic sarap!) and wrote a post about it for you. since it has been a while after that ym conversation, i ditched the post. i had your blog in mind while cooking to just wish you a long and meaning blogging life and for more imaginative posts, writing tips, candid exchanges, social media updates, ‘cyber-friendships,’ and new blog launch(es)… and that you may not stop encouraging all fledgling bloggers to unleash their best. naiiyak ka na? lol. genuine yan kahit binibisaya ka minsan. hehehe...
  • Jan Geronimo
    Lovely magic sarap-enriched pancit. And even lovelier wish for my longevity in blogging. Thanks, Fifi. Very much appreciate your good wishes for me and my blog. *sniffles* Yaya! Tissue please... :)
  • make that: ... the excitement to tell someone was there
  • wow.. Pati sa webhost si Rocky din? weeeeeeeeee! Oo nga maganda ang thesis theme.. Parang patay gutom theme.. minimalistic :D

    <abbr>Jehzeel Laurente’s last blog post..iBlog5 is the 5th Philippine Blogging Summit</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    Hi Jehz, yeah it's all because Rocky went all out in this blog contest. I won this WP blog, the domain name registration, the Thesis theme, customization (even as we speak he's around around somewhere tweaking stuff so I'd look good to my readers). He has also rounded up some of his friends to create a logo for my header. They are still working on it. And yes, Rocky paid for one year fees with my webhost.

    Duly noted, Jehz. You're so subtle, my friend.... Indeed, PG is an excellently conceived example of a minimalist blog. ",)
  • Roy
    yes, i've read diTesco's comment, and was also surprised that it could be construed as a link farm. i guess it's just a matter of opinion, although we know that the Big G can be opinionated, so he could be right. after all, he is the more technical person, so you might want to consider his advice. i've heard about link farms and G's take on them.

    i created my 'Blogs I Read' page without thinking about that, i guess 'what you don't know won't hurt you' lol

    but as for you, you already know it Jan, hehe....

    about Gravatar, i don't how it is between JS kit and wordpress.com, but gravatar takes the picture/avatar you uploaded in your wordpress.com account, and it's reference will the e-mail address you used when you created your wp.com account.

    by the way, i noticed, there's no Recent Posts' on your sidebar, it will be easier navigate on previous post with that than clicking the Archives

    <abbr>Roy’s last blog post..emptiness</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    It's done...I'm now looking for Related Posts plug for the end of every post. I've a Popular Post widget, but the one I got looked different from the rest of the widget so I took it out.

    As for the separate page for the blogroll, I remember Chris Brogan has his Rockstars. And Jehz has his separate page for links too. Perhaps what will save the day for me is the matter of really examining those that offer exchange links. That has to be gone through with a fine-tooth comb. To be safe.
  • Roy
    aahh! your post in your new home... it wasn't really that scary, right? looks like you're now getting comfortable.

    you'll get your widgets on your sidebar soon, you'll know what you like and what you need along the way, and I believe you got very good technical advisers.

    by the way, you might want to start with getting your own gravatar ;)

    <abbr>Roy’s last blog post..One-words: death</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    You're right the dashboard isn't so scary even after just one post. It's got lots of button too - I feel like I am an airline pilot. ",)

    The widgets - ah the widgets - that's tough....About making a page for links: DiTesco said something about the danger of having a separate page for links. This might be construed as a link farm. What's your take on this? I know you have a separate page for your links.

    That gravatar - yeah, it's not showing my profile picture. I went to its homepage but it's down for reg for another two weeks. I'll recheck again. I remember disabling js-kit for salabasngmandaluyong. Do you think that's the source of my gravatar not showing up? This is a puzzler.
  • Finally, your fresh, elegant, uhmmm, white, yeah, white home. This is your step to stardom! I mean to the limelight of blogosphere! Weeee! :D

    Submit your blog in different directories para tumaas PR... :D

    <abbr>Kelvin Servigon’s last blog post..AyosDito.ph Is Your New One-Stop-Shop Next To You</abbr>
  • Hello. Suggestions? Where do you want me to start?, lol.

    OK. I would not put your Blog Roll on a different page if possible. If you do that, it could be considered as a "link farm" (if you have a lot) and will not count as much for link popularity.

    I really like the "excerpts" below your home page. Maybe you can just put excerpts on everything, including your recent posts. For example, right now, if I am not a sneaky little bas**rd, I would not have seen your excerpts, because they are way down the page. Consider that my friend.

    Worry not about your PR, it will come back, and I believe sooner than you think. Often, Google does some "intermediary" rounds and updates PR's.

    Social bookmarking (addthis or similar) and retweet buttons is definitely a must. Make it discrete and well positioned.

    For the time being, that's it. Will check and suggest regularly if needed. Keep in touch

    <abbr>DiTesco’s last blog post..ShoeMoney Free 12 Week Internet Marketing Training Course</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    Yeah, I have seen great examples of blogs which present posts on front page in magazine style format - or excerpts as you call it. Will check out that option. What's great with Thesis is the ease in moving things around in the page. Tried it last night - changed from 3-column to 2-column. And all went fine. It's a breeze.

    Oh, I'm not worried about Page Rank and Alexa Ranking. Those are bonus for me. If I can have conversations with 5 to 10 bloggers and readers every time I publish a post, I would consider that having a great day already. Thanks, Francisco. Oh, can I say here your first name? :)
  • Oooppps. Did not quite see that last bit of your reply. Of course you can use my name here. Makes it more personal - but such authorization is only for you, lol

    <abbr>DiTesco’s last blog post..BING - Microsoft's New Decision Engine</abbr>
  • One more thing, wala ka pang About page. Well, I think , it's on the works kasi wala pang blogroll, tag cloud, and even your AdSense....and subscription by email updates. Kaya pala wala na akong updates.

    <abbr>bingkee’s last blog post..NOMINATED FOR "MOST INFLUENTIAL BLOG"</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    I have readied my About page, but I don't know how to put it up there next to the Home tab. Hmmm. And I'm considering a separate tab/page for my blogroll. Now, if I can only figure out how to do that I'd be making many blogging buddies happy. Hey, before the transfer? I've got a PR3. I almost fell off my seat. Of course, my elation was short-lived. Within an hour, Rocky had already breached the impassive Great Wall of China. In a heartbeat, we've made our escape from blogspot. Well, that's my little action adventure yesterday. And this post is my first with WordPress. :)
  • Wow, it's here na. Congrats on your new blog. Did you submit your new URL to directories and search engines? You must do that . Go to DiTesco's blog and he has a list of high PR directories and list of search engine submissions.

    <abbr>bingkee’s last blog post..NOMINATED FOR "MOST INFLUENTIAL BLOG"</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    Hi Bingkee, I'm still enjoying my new surroundings. I've spent last night just looking at it. And for most of the day, I've stopped blog hopping just to investigate what this button is for, what that link does - this sort of thing. And still I don't understand it. I have still jet lag, so to speak. Ahahaha.

    Good that you reminded me! I have to do it all over again. Making the round of these directories. Thanks!
  • Nice post! Well, the only suggestion I can give right now is for you to take a look into DISQUS for your comments. In case you move things around your new house, you can be sure that your comments are safe.

    <abbr>Rob Angeles’s last blog post..How To Turn Blog Comments To Web Wide Discussions</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    Hi Rob, do you think it will not ride override the commentluv if I put in Disqus? It will still be there? I have an account with Disqus already. And what I like about it is that it has aggregated (there's that word again - lols) all comments I make in different blogs. So I get to see who's talking with me. Psst - does it provide link love/back links? Ahahaha. I'm so hopeless...I've yet to check your latest post. But I have a feeling it's about Disqus. Okay, will check out your post. Maybe this will tip the balance in favor of Disqus, but I'm not promising anything. :)
  • I think your comments are safe here in WP. Just use WP DB Manager for Daily Post back up. :)

    E sesend nya sa email mo ang database mo everyday, pwede twice a day, pwede once a week. Kung gaano kadalas mo gusto.

    Para in case sumabog ang blog na to sa sobrang dami ng visitors, may back up ka sa email. :)

    I suggest creating a separate Gmail account para hindi mapuno agad yung e-mail mo sa SQL backups. :)

    <abbr>Jehzeel Laurente’s last blog post..iBlog5 is the 5th Philippine Blogging Summit</abbr>
  • zorlone
    Jhez,

    I also have a WP site. Domain and webhosting included. What is lacking is my blog. Been contemplating to transfer my blogspot to WP. I'm too chickened out to do it. Guess my ignorance scares me the most. Maybe with some coaching, I can do it. hmmm... any suggestions?

    Z

    <abbr>Zorlone’s last blog post..Poetry Friday</abbr>
  • you then should better stick with LJ for him to tutor you bro...hopefully ill follow suit...

    <abbr>elmot’s last blog post..Elmot's List of Ten Emerging Influential Blogs 2009!</abbr>
  • Jan Geronimo
    Okay, Jhez, will look it up in my dashboard or in Google. That's a cool thing, this backup. Oh, I have a separate gmail account for this blog aside from my personal email.

    Thank you, Jehz. :)
  • I think that's the bad news of it. Disqus is still developing a plugin for comment luv. Hopefully they release it soon since that's one feature I would love to have.

    <abbr>Rob Angeles’s last blog post..How To Turn Blog Comments To Web Wide Discussions</abbr>
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